Cargo ships dock at Xiamen Haicang Lingang International Logistics Park in Fujian province on Jan 14. [Photo/VCG]

In Xiamen Haicang Lingang International Logistics Park in Fujian province, a heavy-duty electric truck slowly pulls into an automated swapping station. Through precise mechanical maneuvers, the vehicle's depleted battery is seamlessly removed and replaced with a fully charged one. In less than five minutes, the truck is back on the road, continuing its container transport route with zero emissions.

This highly efficient operation is enabled by COSCO Shipping Investment (Xiamen) Supply Chain Development's green energy charging and swapping integrated operation project.

With a total investment of some 33 million yuan ($4.86 million), the initiative builds on existing green warehousing to create a zero-carbon park. It aims to create the largest green energy production, storage, and consumption integration demonstration base among maritime port areas nationwide.

The project encompasses three major sectors: electric heavy-duty trucks, charging and swapping stations, and photovoltaic power generation systems. The facility spans 16,000 square meters and boasts a total power capacity of 12,800 kilowatts, designed to provide annual charging and battery-swapping services totaling 30 million kilowatt-hours.

The infrastructure includes three swapping stations and 22 charging piles. The charging stations can service 50 to 60 vehicles per day, while the swapping stations efficiently serve 100 to 150 vehicles in daily operations. To fully utilize this capacity, an initial fleet of 130 electric heavy-duty trucks has been deployed for port container transport, which alone can consume 20 million kWh of electricity per annum.

The system is specifically tailored to the high-turnover nature of port operations. The ability to swap a 400-kWh battery in just five minutes significantly enhances the turnaround efficiency of port logistics, ensuring that the supply chain remains uninterrupted while transitioning to green energy.

To ensure that the electricity used by these trucks comes from renewable sources, the project incorporates a 50,000-sq m distributed PV power station. Designed with an installed capacity of 8.4 megawatts, the solar infrastructure will generate 10.08 million kWh of clean electricity per year once fully completed.

Recently, the first phase of the PV project — covering 39,000 sq m of logistics warehouse rooftops — successfully passed inspection and was connected to the grid at full capacity. This initial phase currently generates 6.5 million kWh of clean power generation.

The realization of this zero-carbon vision required overcoming significant engineering challenges. Since the project's launch, the team successfully solved multiple technical difficulties during the electrical pipe jacking and PV foundation construction stages, ensuring the first phase was completed on schedule.

By integrating solar power, energy storage, charging, and battery swapping technologies, the project stabilizes the port's electricity load and guarantees continuous equipment operation despite the highly fluctuating power demands typical of port facilities.

"Since its launch in October, COSCO Shipping Investment's new energy charging and swapping integrated base has utilized approximately 1.94 million kWh of clean electricity, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1,090 metric tons," said a spokesperson for COSCO Shipping Investment (Xiamen) Supply Chain Development.

"Based on current diesel prices, using electric heavy-duty trucks can save logistics companies more than 10 percent on energy costs."

This dedication to green transformation aligns with the broader corporate vision. As the first global supply chain platform of COSCO Shipping Ports, the company is committed to promoting global connectivity through sustainable practices. Leveraging this integrated green energy project, it aims to expand end-to-end carbon reduction services, collaborating with upstream and downstream partners to strengthen environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and promote sustainable development across the logistics value chain.